Tertiary Minerals Strengthens Mushima North Copper-Silver Project with Phase 4 Results

Tertiary Minerals Reports Strong Silver-Copper Results from Phase 4 Drilling at Zambia’s Mushima North

Tertiary Minerals has reported further encouraging assay results from Phase 4 infill drilling at the Discovery Zone of its Target A1 prospect at the Mushima North project in Zambia, with the latest results extending the known depth of near-surface silver-copper-zinc mineralisation.

The results come from seven additional reverse-circulation drill holes. All seven intersected mineralisation, with most holes ending in mineralisation, indicating that the system remains open at depth. 

Mushima North lies within Zambia’s prospective Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold region, about 28 km east of the historic Kalengwa copper-silver mine, which is currently being redeveloped.

Target A1 hosts a polymetallic silver-copper-zinc system for which Tertiary has previously defined a near-surface Exploration Target of between 15 million and 30 million tonnes grading 40 g/t to 60 g/t silver equivalent.

Strong Infill Drilling Results

The latest drilling has strengthened confidence in the continuity of the mineralised zone and provided additional information for the planned Mineral Resource Estimate.

Among the notable intersections were:

• 67 m at 40 g/t silver, 0.10% copper and 0.30% zinc, equivalent to 51 g/t silver, from 19 m downhole.
• 82 m at 37 g/t silver, 0.11% copper and 0.54% zinc, equivalent to 53 g/t silver, from only 7 m downhole.
• 46 m at 41 g/t silver, 0.19% copper and 0.65% zinc, equivalent to 63 g/t silver, from 8 m downhole.

The company notes that these are downhole widths and that true widths have not yet been established.

Higher-Grade Zone Emerges

The drilling also continues to support a higher-grade silver-copper zone within the broader mineralised system.

Key intersections include 22 m at 90 g/t silver, 0.13% copper and 0.44% zinc, equivalent to 105 g/t silver, from 64 m downhole.

Other results included 12 m at 80 g/t silver, 0.21% copper and 0.67% zinc, equivalent to 104 g/t silver, from 35 m, and 11 m at 97 g/t silver, 0.07% copper and 0.54% zinc, equivalent to 110 g/t silver, from 43 m.

Tertiary Minerals managing director Richard Belcher said the results were increasing confidence in the extent and continuity of mineralisation within the existing Exploration Target.

The company highlighted the 82 m intersection at 53 g/t silver equivalent from just 7 m below surface, as well as the 22 m intersection grading 105 g/t silver equivalent from 64 m.

3,639 Metres Drilled

Phase 4 comprised 39 reverse-circulation holes totalling 3,639 m. Drilling at the Discovery Zone was carried out along east-west lines, with holes drilled to vertical depths of up to 128 m.

The programme was designed to improve confidence in the continuity of mineralisation, test the margins of the Exploration Target for potential expansion and further investigate the higher-grade zone.

With most of the latest holes ending in mineralisation, Tertiary says the known mineralised depth extends beyond the envelope of the previously defined Exploration Target.

The company also says the transition from the near-surface oxide mineralisation into potential sulphide mineralisation remains largely untested.

Further laboratory results are expected in the coming weeks as the company works towards a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for Target A1.

The latest results add to Tertiary Minerals’ growing exploration case at Mushima North and could help establish the project as a significant new polymetallic discovery in Zambia’s western mineral belt.